President: Budget excludes allocations for ongoing projects

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has criticized the previous government, stating the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)-led government excluded allocations for several ongoing developmental projects.

While speaking at a rally in Haa Alifu atoll Dhidhdhoo, President Dr. Muizzu highlighted several projects did not proceed at adequate speeds despite commencement.

President Dr. Muizzu is currently visiting the local islands of Haa Alifu atoll to assess their conditions and developmental initiatives.

Explaining the interruptions to development projects, Dr. Muizzu said special budget allocations for the initiatives were necessary to ensure uninterrupted progress.

“I will highlight something important, it was never done nor practiced before. Currently we are utilizing a budget approved by the previous administration, and we received a narrow window during the transition period,” Dr. Muizzu explained.

He added the preceding government did not include allocations for ongoing projects while the Budget Committee’s conduct was unbecoming.

President further said the general practice was to allocate sufficient budget for the following year if the initiative commenced by the end point of the current year.

“We are currently utilizing the budget approved by them [parliament], which does not follow the [general] practice. Allocations for ongoing projects are not nearly sufficient,” Muizzu said.

Dr. Muizzu raised the question of how to proceed with projects lacking budget allocations and explained it would result in delays and owing payables to contractors. He added the government already owed a debt of MVR 9 billion to the public in this regard.

Highlighting the current administration’s objectives of rectifying previous government’s efforts, Dr. Muizzu requested the public to elect pro-government lawmakers to the upcoming parliamentary elections.